Blackwood takes tips from friend and icon Sir Viv
West Indies’ one bright spark in the first Test tells Nick Hoult that the all-time great is one of three crucial confidants
It is not a bad roll call of mentors. Jermaine Blackwood’s list of supporters includes his housemate Andre Russell, Sir Viv Richards and the Universe Boss himself, Chris Gayle. So there should be no shortage of advice as he looks to make his way in England for the first time. Blackwood was the one West Indies success to emerge from the wreckage of Edgbaston. His 79 from 76 balls in the first innings was the kind of defiance you expect from a proud Jamaican and hinted at the talent that still exists in West Indies cricket.
It was a thrilling innings of the kind Gayle would have been proud to play. Sir Viv would probably have gone on to make the hundred that Blackwood deserved. But for a young batsman playing his first Test innings in England, and against such experienced bowlers as James Anderson and Stuart Broad, it was an encouraging performance. It also suggested that England may not have it all their own way if Blackwood can find a partner in the second Test that starts today at Headingley.
“It was a pretty good innings given the circumstances,” Blackwood said. “Just going out there to bat I felt a little bit nervous. I had not played in the last series and I had a lot of stuff going on inside but I just wanted to express myself in the middle. At the same time I kept reminding myself to rotate the strike as much as possible and once the bad ball came strike it. “That is the natural Jermaine Blackwood. Whatever circumstances face me in the middle I try to adapt as quickly as possible. If I go out there at 20 for four I will
try and play the conditions but stick to my normal game as much as possible because you have to score runs as a batsman.”
This is an important tour for Blackwood. At 25, an average of 32 runs from 23 Tests does not do him justice and he was left out of the side for the last series at home to Pakistan. But he has the support of West Indies head coach Stuart Law.
“He is only 5ft 2in tall but he walks around like he is 10ft tall and that is the sort of attitude that really warms my heart,” said Law.
If you are friends with Russell and Gayle then confidence is not going to be in short supply. Blackwood shares a house in Jamaica with Russell, who is serving a one-year doping ban. The West Indies are keen for him to come back into the Test side when his suspension is over and his work ethic is something that Blackwood has tried to emulate.
“I started playing from a young age,” he said. “I have two brothers who play for Jamaica. When they were playing cricket I liked to go around with them and they taught me a lot. From 12 I was playing Jamaica Under-15 and from there I have not looked back.
“Andre Russell is a mentor to me, like a bigger brother. Also Chris Gayle helps me a lot and I talk to the great Sir Viv as my icon. Those guys give me feedback on how to go about cricket and I want to go out there and do good to show them what I took from them. I like the way they go about cricket and I want to follow their pattern.
“Chris tells me cricketing-wise to stay positive and play my natural game at all times. He gave me some good tips about England. I should play straight and capitalise when I get a bad ball.
“I talk to Andre on a day-to-day basis. We live together in Jamaica. We are pretty close. He works very hard and as a person has been very successful. He put in a lot of hard work and has been successful because of that and I have to take that from him. Nothing comes easy in cricket. He always tell me to express myself in the middle.”
Blackwood hit one straight six against Moeen Ali at Edgbaston that was probably the hardeststruck shot of the Test match. Headingley is a fast-scoring ground if the overhead conditions are sunny and will suit Blackwood.
Young West Indies cricketers such as Blackwood were not even born when many of the greats of the Caribbean game were playing and it is a sad fact that this generation lives with the constant impossibility of having to match those who went before them. Of his 23 Tests, Blackwood has played in five wins, only one overseas.
“The team is in a good place right now,” he said. “We are working pretty hard to go out in this second Test and try to do better. I know we are going to do better. We have put the first Test match behind us.
“We have one goal. That is to come out and play some good cricket. You can expect in this Test for us to come out and fight. It is not going to be easy. But we will accept the challenges and do our best. Honestly I don’t really pay any attention to the criticism. If you do that as a player you are not going to focus on the game. I don’t read any comments. I just go out and try to do good for my team.
“This is a good bunch of players. We are young. We are working hard and just want to do the right things over and over. Hopefully this game everything can come together for us.
“This is my first time in England, I am loving it so far. You get value for your shots and once you pierce the gaps you get runs. I would love to play county cricket in the future but right now I am just focusing on this tour.”
‘I am loving England so far. You get value for your shots and, once you pierce the gaps, you get runs’